Please note, there are different ways in which termination of pregnancy could be decriminalised. This survey does not seek your opinions on this – only the principle of removing criminal sanctions.

We are not consulting on the wider issues of termination of pregnancy, including the arguments for or against the procedure, nor are we calling for any change to gestational limits or change to the right to conscientious objection by health care professionals.

What is termination of pregnancy?

Termination of pregnancy is the medical process of ending a pregnancy so it doesn’t result in the birth of a baby. It is also commonly known as therapeutic or induced abortion. A pregnancy may be terminated using medication or through a surgical procedure.

Terminations can only be carried out in an NHS hospital or a licensed clinic, if the circumstances meet the current laws.

What is decriminalisation?

Decriminalisation is best understood as removing specific criminal sanctions associated with termination of pregnancy.

According to the British Medical Association, decriminalisation “at the very basic level… involves changing the default position so that instead of [termination of pregnancy] being a crime for which there are some circumstances in which [it] is lawful, [termination of pregnancy] would be lawful with some limited exceptions, such as where the procedure is undertaken on a woman who has capacity without her consent."